It’s been more than a year since Jason Jackson argued with UFC commentator and bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz about his performance in the cage.

Now, the Blackzilian and veteran of “The Ultimate Fighter 21” thinks there should be no doubt about his readiness to compete in the octagon after he meets Rodrigo Cavalheiro Correia on Friday at Titan FC 41.

Titan FC 41 takes place at Bank United Center in Coral Gables, Fla., not too far from Jackson’s home training base. The event streams live on UFC Fight Pass. The fight replaces an earlier matchup that offered him the chance to get another leg up on his rivals at American Top Team. When “TUF 21” vet Steve Carl fell out due to injury, officials booked the Correia fight.

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Jackson (5-2) thinks of Correia (14-2) as a muay Thai striker and capoeira artist rather than a wrestler, so that could offer the chance to shine a little more on his feet.

Wherever the fight goes, Jackson is confident he’ll have the upper hand. He expects a finish but isn’t ready to say where or when it will happen.

“Let’s see,” he said. “That’s a good question. Deep inside my guts, I smell a finish, but I don’t know where it’s coming. Because I feel like I could do ground, striking, and it would be hard giving away the round.”

Cruz laid into Jackson for trying to shift the blame on the outcome of a losing effort on “TUF 21.” The episode gave him some perspective of where his career was at, and now he feels more comfortable inside the cage.

It’s certainly not too late for Jackson to make a run at 170 pounds, but of course, he has to show up for the big fights. Friday could be the start of that goal.